Chapter 756

Chapter 756

Demons. The embodiments of anger and hatred, the harbingers of war and strife, the heralds of death and destruction, these nightmarish monstrosities were known by many names and feared by most, but in Zians eyes, they were merely stepping stones on his Path to the Martial Peak.

Or at least, thats what he reminded himself as he stood firm before the wave of Demons barrelling down upon him.

There were humanoid Demons and bestial Demons, enormous Demons and diminutive Demons, revolting Demons and beguiling Demons, Demons of every shape and colour imaginable it seemed. Hed heard tales of the massive Demonic horde which took part in Bai Qis siege of the Central Citadel, and while the group gathered here likely fell far short in comparison, they still made for an imposing sight. The pressure they exerted on his Aura was unlike anything hed ever felt before, a crushing weight upon his mind and soul that took him firmly in hand to squeeze him from all sides. There were no tactics to rely on, no experience to draw from, no plan of action to secure victory here today. All Zian could do was stand fast and believe that his strength and the strength of his allies would be enough to see them through this battle, because the alternative was death and defeat, an outcome he refused to accept.

Palms sweating and heart racing, he moved his twin sabres about in a slow, defensive pattern in preparation to receive his foes, though he had no real need to warm up. Since emerging from the tunnels under Pan Si Xing, hed hardly had a moment to breathe much less rest as he waded through a veritable swarm of crazed Defiled assailants. Easy as chopping firewood, or so the idiom would have you believe, though Zian was beginning to believe the person who came up with it had never chopped a single log in their life. The work was simple enough and anyone could figure it out after a few tries, but chop enough wood and even the greatest Warrior in the Empire would eventually topple over in exhaustion, and the Defiled of Pan Si Xing constituted a veritable mountain of wood which needed to be chopped. Leaden arms and burning lungs were the least of his problems though, as the hot Western sun sapped away what little strength and moisture he had left. Despite having emptied two full water-skins into his gullet since the battle began, Zians mouth still felt drier than the desert sand plaguing every crack and crevice in his body.

And yet, still he felt the need to twirl his weapons about, because if he didnt work off some of this nervous energy, he feared he would become unmanned and start trembling before his foes.

This wasnt due to lack of courage mind you. It was perfectly natural to feel apprehensive in a situation such as this, and trembling was a perfect natural reaction to apprehension. Rain might have an answer for why that was, but Zian didnt care one whit about the why and only wanted to know how to stop it. Even though there was nothing abnormal about his reaction when coming face to face with so many Demons, as leader of his Warriors, how could he be the first to show fear? He was Situ Jia Zian, young Patriarch of the Situ Clan, a name and title that rang hollow in a way he never noticed until recently. What happened to the man who decided to honour his fathers name? What happened to the man who resolved to strike out from Clan and Society in order to make his fathers name known? Lu Jia Zian, son of Lu An Jing and Situ Jia Ying, Disciple of Jukai and Situ Jia Yang, that was the man he wanted to be, but then...

Then Mother came along and decided everything for herself.

He couldnt take his fathers name, because his father had agreed to marry into the Situ Clan, laid out in a contract he signed and sealed himself. If Zian started calling himself a Lu, then wouldnt others think him unfilial for not honouring his fathers word? And how could he strike out on his own? Without support from the Society, his career and Martial Path would be a hundred times more difficult. Where would he find trained elites for his retinue? How would he pay for their salaries and equipment? Even though Mother was Magistrate of Shen Yun, she had a fiduciary duty to ensure the citys security and stability, so she couldnt simply empty the treasury and pillage the guard roster just because he was her beloved son. No, Zian would need both Clan and Society, not only for the resources and manpower it provided, but the connections as well, so there would be no more talk of striking out on his own, much less any Lu family nonsense.

Everything Mother said always made perfect, logical sense, but at twenty-seven years old, Zian was tired of being the obedient and dutiful son and wanted to take his life into his own hands. Not that she would let him, of course, since she was now Magistrate and Matriarch both and therefore needed him following in her footsteps even closer than ever before. Still, there was no harm in yearning for a better tomorrow, one in which he escaped out from under Mothers thumb to discover the man he wanted to be, even if it remained a faint and distant dream.

Granted, he wasnt some ungrateful child who didnt appreciate everything she did, because without her, he would not be half the man he was today. The more he learned about the circumstances of his birth and upbringing, the more he was amazed by her brilliant foresight and political acumen. Growing up, hed been left unaware of all the struggles she suffered and hardships she endured just to keep him safe and alive, for she made it all look so easy and effortless he didnt even know there was a threat to his life. For as long as he could remember, she was the Magistrate of Shen Yun, but now that he was older, Zian could not imagine how difficult it must have been to secure the Office for herself. Without assistance from Clan and Society mind you, because she intended to use Shen Yun as a bargaining chip and could only negotiate from a position of strength if the city belonged solely to her and her alone. How she accomplished such a feat, Zian did not know, for the records only indicated that the previous Magistrate bowed out of the competition and no one else cared to challenge Mother for the right to succession.

Which he only learned of recently, when his wife told him all about the legendary Situ Jia Ying.

See, to him, shed always been his mother, confident, intelligent, and loving to the extreme, but to the world, she was one of the most fearsome women of the North alongside OuYang Yuhuan. While Aunty Yuhuan owed her notoriety to her Runic Crafting skills and Ancestral Beast backer, Mothers claim to fame lay in her ability to govern. When she took over the Office of Magistrate, Shen Yun had been little more than a glorified rest stop on the way to greener pastures, a hub where the most prestigious work was being a local middleman for foreign powers hailing from other, more prosperous cities. If you wanted the best hardwood, you went to Shen Mu. The best soft woods? Ping Yao. The finest foodstuffs? Sanshu. Cheap salt? Shen Bin. Best weapons and armour? Shen Huo. The list went on and on, leaving Shen Yun with no means to compete until Mother took it upon herself to fill a niche that had thus far gone unnoticed.

A long story short, Mother turned Shen Yun into a city of artisans, the one-stop shopping destination for any and all things fashionable. No matter if it was clothes, decor, jewellery, or furniture, if you wanted something custom made, then chances were, the best craftsman of the North could be found in Shen Yun. According to Jing Fei, Mother did this simply by offering those experts something no other city cared to offer, namely their dignity. Despite being masters of their craft, in the eyes of the noble elites, a master sculptor, tailor, silversmith, or carpenter was still nothing more than a mere labourer, but Mother elevated them to something more. In Shen Yun, they were respected for their craft and more than that, protected from the strong-armed tactics of nobles looking to secure their services for less than they were worth. It wasnt even all that difficult or time consuming on Mothers part either, for all she had to do was hire them on as City employees with an appropriate salary, which meant assaulting them was the same as assaulting a civic officer, the penalties for which were not to be taken lightly. No one would be losing their heads over killing a city employee, but it was not something so easily swept aside, especially if Mother was unwilling to allow it, so once it became known that she was will to fight on their behalf, the craftsmen of the north flocked to Shen Yun in droves for the promise of safe and steady employment.

It seemed a sad state of affairs that such a simple promise could move so many people, but in many parts of the North, strength was the only measure that mattered. More so because life in the North demanded it rather than the people preferred things this way, and many were happy to trade their harsh lives in the north for greener pastures in Rains Central Districts, which were largely considered safer than many villages back home even with the threat of Defiled hordes bearing down upon them.

Of course, Mother did far more than win over a crowd of master craftsmen, but she would never have risen to such heights without the prestige and wealth they brought with them. Wealthy Nobles were always looking for a means to show off their ostentatious wealth, a burning desire Mother exploited without mercy. With the means of production already in hand, Mother did not get greedy and set her craftsmen to working around the clock, but instead provided them with the best materials and asked that they only present her with their best work, because only the best could do their reputations justice. False scarcity, some might say, but that wasnt enough to stop the Nobles of the North from dancing to Mothers tune. Buying overpriced luxuries was merely another way to gain face, and there was nothing the nobles loved more than face, which was why she also opened an official auction house in Shen Yun which sold only the finest goods the city had to offer twice a year.

As a child, he remembered sitting through those auctions being the most boring hours of his life, but only now did he understand how much face was gained and lost on those seemingly unremarkable days. Who knows how many nobles ended up sealing their own fate by outbidding and offending someone they shouldnt have? Then there were the profits, not just the auction houses fifteen percent cut from each sale, but also the costly price of private bidding rooms so that everyone could see who was bidding for what. That wasnt all either, as Mother made even more profits by becoming the greatest middleman the North had ever seen. If you wanted a calligraphy scroll written by Master Lanting, a painting drawn by KaiGu, a sculpture carved by Wu Tsung, or a necklace crafted by YinXian, then you first had to speak with Situ Jia Ying for no one else could offer you access to their work, much less get you a face to face meeting with those famed craftsmen. The time and efforts of such masters was utterly priceless to the right buyer, which meant Mother could make friends and allies as easily as turning a hand without any need to expend her own effort at all. With all her wealth and connections, she was able to stand apart from Clan and Society long before he was old enough to even understand such matters, an independent power who wasnt beholden to them in any way. If anything, it was the other way around. Upset Situ Jia Ying, and you might not have to deal with duels or assassins, but your wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters would most certainly have your head once they learned that they could no longer make use of some trendsetting master craftsmen or the other to keep up with the latest fashions.

And now, Mother was not just Magistrate of Shen Yun, but Matriarch of the Situ Clan, a stunning upset which no one, not even the fearsome Rang Min saw coming.

The Demons attacks came fast and hard, for despite there being so many of them, the bladed claws packed a mean punch. Focusing inward on nothing in order to see everything, he picked off the attacks one by one with his whirling sabres and left his Domain Deflection to deal with only the attacks that he couldnt dodge and were certain not to land on his armour. It was easier said than done, making split second decisions that could mean the difference between life or death, then do so repeatedly within the span of a single minute. Then, without warning, something in Zians mind just fell into place and defending was as simple as breathing. Instead of blocking this next attack and leaving the subsequent ones to his armour, he saw that he could parry the first to interfere with the next two, so he did just that. A sidestep here let him avoid four of seven attacks, while the remaining three could all be ignored as theyd glance off his Runic armour. A riposte here would force it to ease off the offensive, and his sabre moved even before he completed the thought, catching the Demon clean in the face and spilling vile Ichor across its cheeks and chin.

One with the Sword and One with the World, Zian turned the tides on his opponent in an instant. No, there was more to it than this, for he was truly at ease in this battle, for hed found Oneness with himself. He remembered one battle during which Jukai fended off a Demon with a cloak of countless bladed tentacles, and marvelling at how the older man fended off so many attacks from so many different angles without blinking an eye, and now Zian finally understood how. It was a good feeling, measuring his progress these last few months by comparing his skills to his Mentor. Though he was now a father first, husband second, and Warrior somewhere further down the list, he still loved the Martial Path dearly, if not with all his heart like he used to. A cold smile stretched across his cheeks as he pushed himself to his limits and freed himself from frictions hold, spinning and sliding this way and that as he unleashed a barrage of blows upon his foe. More often than not, the Demons powerful talons raked through empty air now as he parried and Deflected its attacks with ease, making it seem like a massive, unskilled child throwing a tantrum rather than a fearsome creature of death and destruction born to carry out the Fathers dark will.

Then the tides turned, and Zian went on the offensive as the Demon fell back before him while blocking his unending flurry of attacks. The chime of metal on Demonic flesh rang out like raindrops on a metal roof, punctuated every now and then with a discordant ring as Zian sheared off a bladed finger here and an armoured toe there. Try as it might, the Demon could do naught but endure before Zians righteous fury, slowly but surely coming apart as he chipped away at its skin and flesh until it leaked Ichor from a hundred different cuts, but still it stood strong, its black, empty eyes unblinking at is came to terms with its fate.

Far too late, Zian realized the Demon was not resigned to death, but rather waiting for the opportune moment. One second, he was an unstoppable god of war upon the battlefield, and then everything fell apart in an instant as the last of his strength was spent. Numbed and leaden arms stopped heeding his commands, still moving only due to pure momentum as his body succumbed to heat and exhaustion, and try as he might, he could not draw breath into his burning lungs. How long had he been fighting for? Difficult to say, for hed been so caught up in the moment so many times. Maybe a half an hour passed between emerging from the tunnels to clashing with the Demons, then that first fight again bat-face couldnt have taken more than a few minutes. The spiked-hedgehog Demon took much longer to kill, maybe ten... no twenty minutes? As for this cloaked Demon, it most certainly took longer than the spiked-frog, but surely not that much longer, right?

Apparently not, because Zian discovered he was dead on his feet with nothing left to give, and the Demon could taste his despair.

One moment, it was closing in for the kill with a three-taloned claw raised high, and the next, the Demon disappeared from Zians field of view. Blinking the sand out of his eyes, he glanced around and saw it some twenty-five metres away, on top of a nearby building and half-hidden behind a crenellation, its featureless face glaring out at a foe too fearsome to fight. A piss poor showing, Elder Chi Gan Sent, even as Zians soldiers raised their voices to cheer for the Twinned Dragon Scion. All that dancing and faffing about, like a courtesan in heat trying to get a rise out of a corpse. Why didnt you just hit the damned Demon and kill it?

If there was one thing Zian learned from Jukai, it was never to be too prideful to learn from his mistakes. Had I the opportunity, I would have struck to kill, but the Demons defences were formidable.

Maybe, Chi Gan Sent, his pursed lips indicative of his scorn, But what about the other two Demons, eh? Fodder trash, yet you still had to do your little dance. Didnt anyone ever teach you how to swing your sword? I mean really swing it, not sling it around like youre making noodles, mind you, a proper, all-out attack. Seeing Zians lacking comprehension, Chi Gan snorted and shook his head. Suppose its not all your fault. Was part of the plan. Let you play with two sabres just like your daddy without sending anyone to teach you, because that would limit your growth. Jukai fucked that up, but about a decade too late since he was busy wallowing in sorrow, but even if hed taught you from the start, you wouldve never been accepted as Patriarch. Raised away from the clan, you never made the friends and connections youd need to gain the support of the future Elders, so I suppose Rang Min did a fine job of setting you up for failure, because as a young Patriarch, thats exactly what you are. A failure.

Zian already knew Rang Min had tried to ruin him with alcohol and women, but this was news to him. Who would plot so thoroughly against a child?

Thats the best time to be thorough, Chi Gan replied. When theyre young and dont know any better. Seeing Zians incredulous look, he shrugged and asked, Who you think gave Rang Min the idea? Clan and Society above all else. Thats what it means to be a Situ, so its best you remember your family name. Prodding the Lu character emblazoned on Zians chest, Chi Gan continued, Your Daddy was a Lu, but did any of them come running to support you? You see any of them fighting here beside you? I see plenty of his old subordinates, but not a single Lu, no brothers, cousins, nephews, or anything. Curious that, but not unexpected, because theyre a family of merchants who only ever think in terms of profit. Fixing him with a steely eye, Chi Gan poked Zian hard in the chest and said, Remember, you serve the Clan, but in return, the Clan looks after its own, no matter the cost. Now attend to me and see how you can be of better service.

Drawing his longsword, Chi Gan took his stance, but rather than the standard, two-handed, overhead sword stance Zian had seen so many other Situ Clansmen use, the strongest living Situ Clansman held his sword in one hand and his scabbard in the other, one pointed high, the other low. Then, he took a single step and crossed the twenty-plus metres between him and the featureless Demon, appearing on the rooftop in the blink of an eye. Throwing his entire body into the attack, Chi Gan brought his sword down with all his might while raising his scabbard up, almost like he himself were a giant pair of scissors. It was hardly the most elegant or graceful of attacks, but its power could not be denied as he cleaved through the Demon in a single strike, smashing clean through its raised defences as if they were made of paper with sword and scabbard both.

There were Peak Experts, and then there were Warriors like Chi Gan, who even Rang Min and Nian Zu had to respect. Hearing about it was one thing, but having seen the old mans strength firsthand, Zian most certainly had no complaints.

Before the Demons carcass even had time to topple over, Chi Gan reappeared at Zians side. See that? he aside, his sword already back in its sheathe as if itd never been drawn. Thats a proper killing blow. No need to learn that exact movement, as its just something I came up with for an example, but its a damn sight better than anything youve shown today.

Clasping his fist in a proper salute, Zian bowed ninety degrees at the waist and said, Thank you for your guidance, Elder. You have opened this ones little eyes.

Stand up straight before I send you out to cut me a switch, Chi Gan barked, and Zian wasnt ashamed to admit that he jumped to obey, if only because the man sounded deadly serious. The little Patriarch doesnt bow to a Situ Clansman, not even an Elder like me. Muttering some rude obscenity beneath his breath, he grabbed Zian by the shoulder and turned him to face the battle again. There, see that one? That black-hearted scoundrel of a scout with the sword there? Siyar his name is, and a damned fine swordsman he is. You could learn something from him. He uses one hand too, but he knows something about killing in a single blow instead of dancing about to look pretty, so dont just stand there gasping and wheezing like a fish on land. Use this time to learn. If you arent busy learning, then youre busy dying, thats what my grandfather used to say, and he was a Warrior unlike any other.

The old man had a lot to say now that hed broken the seal on his self-imposed silence, and Zian wasnt entirely sure he liked things better this way. One thing was sure though, the old man was right. So long as Mother served as Matriarch of the Clan, then Zian would serve in his own way, as it was the least he could do for the woman who raised him. He had no great love for Clan or Society, but at the same time, he didnt hate it either. Maybe it would be good for little An Yang and Fei Ying to have so many cousins to grow up with, but Zian would make no decisions before consulting with his beloved wife and finding out what she decided for him.

Such was the curse of having a brilliant wife, to always be beholden to her superior wisdom, but Zian knew she would never steer him wrong, and he could not wait to hold her and his children in his arms once more.

Chapter Meme